Donna, your "Ice Cream in the Sink" (at the bottom of my post) varies quite substantially from what's published in Zesty Contras (1983). Who did your version come from? See http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/contra/contra-modern/327-ice-cream-in-the… I like to include a circle mixer and usually put it as the second dance of the evening, rather than the third. I have no problem with using them for social engineering. I use simple mixers, so I figure this is something appropriate for quite early in the evening. I just don't run them very long. As a dancer, I personally really enjoy the whole-hall feeling of a circle that especially comes from those simple circles and into the middle. I find there's special challenge and enjoyment to dancing a simple dance zestily. Some halls and crowds are not so conducive to them. I do like them at the end of dance weekend for that same feeling that Donna mentions. I like: - Ted Sanella's "Cabot School Mixer" (already mentioned here) - traditional "La Bastringue" (though this is simple, it's got a long swing, so pros & cons for beginners) - traditional "Circassian Circle" (I use this more when there is a high proportion of beginners) - a dance I got from "Lars" in Fairbanks in 1983: I call it "Fairbanks No-name Mixer" starting formation: gents face out, ladies face in A1: In your inner or outer group: Circle left (away from partner), Circle right A2: Partner dosido, Corner ("somebody new") see saw (left shoulder dosido) B1: Corner balance & swing B2: Same one promenade (Ladies continue in this direction to circle, Gents reverse direction) Note: this formation needs a good number of dancers, and may be useful if your hall is more full, however, encourage the men to step right out to the dosidos, and to step back in for the circles. Typically the ladies struggle a bit to form their circle; encourage them not to stop moving at the end of the promenade. These (above) are the four circle mixers I use the most (I don't call often enough in one place for them to become boring -- I think!). - a dance I got from Susan Michaels of L.A. that I don't have a name for, either. It's initially slightly more challenging for beginners who don't have their left and rights sorted out. A1: partner (right shoulder) dosido, allemande left the one on the left A2: partner (left shoulder) seesaw, allemande right the one on the right B1: partner balance & swing B2: partner promenade (8 counts); [ladies turn back &] gents move up to next partner An interesting mixer that I collected when Susan Michaels called it in the second half of a dance once was this (and I don't have a name or author for this, too...?): Starting formation: Varsouvienne hold, facing LOD A1: Promenade forward, turn to reverse Promenade back and form a wavy ring (keep R hands with ptnr, ladies face in) A2: Balance R&L, slide Right; Balance L&R, slide Left B1: Partner turn by Right 1-1/2 previous partner gypsy by LEFT shoulder Partner pass by Right B2: Next person balance & swing I have a whole 'nother set of stuff for one night stands & family dances. ~ Becky Nankivell Tucson, Arizona & Long Beach, California Donna Calhoun wrote ( Sun, 4 Mar 2012 09:22) Ice Cream in the Sink..... Kathy Hirsh Circle mixer A1) Into the center and back Into the center, gents turn to face partner, pousette back A2) Do-si-do partner Right Allemande partner B1) Left shoulder do-si-do partner Left Allemande partner B2) Promenade the ring, gents turn back Swing new partner A few years ago a caller ended our annual weekend event with this. The great partner interaction gave us a wonderful 30 second interlude to wish all of our partners farewell.